Coloration of a small Nozawa’s prickleback, Stichaeus nozawae Jordan and Snyder, 1902 (Zoarcoidei : Stichaeidae)

The coloration of small individuals of Nozawa’s prickleback, Stichaeus nozawae is presented for the first time, based on a specimen (112 mm SL) collected by T/S Ushio-maru from the Funka Bay, Hokkaido. The specimen has obscure bands on dorsal, anal, caudal and pectoral fins. Although specimens of comparable sizes (57.4-168 mm SL) have obscure bands on these fins, most larger specimens (252-361 mm SL) have no bands on the caudal and pectoral fins. Most descriptions or images in previous studies, including the original description, were based on large specimens (220-450 mm SL), which have no bands on these fins. Thus, bands on caudal and pectoral fins of S. nozawae tend to disappear with growt